Electrical Safety First responds to Westminster Hall debate on the safety of white goods and product recalls

“Electrical Safety First has lobbied hard for improvements to the product recall system, including via membership of the Working Group on Product Recalls and Safety – which is soon to release its final report and recommendations.

However, as this debate illustrates there are on-going problems with the recall process. For example, the length of time it took Whirlpool to advise consumers not to use its affected tumble dryers. Consumer safety should always be put first – since their product safety notice* was issued in November 2015, we have consistently advised people not to use an affected machine. It’s a shame it took Whirlpool so long to issue the same advice.”

The debate was led by Hammersmith and Fulham MP, Andy Slaughter. It was in his constituency last August that a Whirlpool tumble dryer in a block of flats caught fire, leading to 100 families being evacuated. Fortunately, there were no injuries but London Fire Brigade has warned that if the incident had happened at night, the outcome could have been very different.

In response to concerns around the safety of electrical products, Electrical Safety First helped establish the All Party Parliamentary Group on Electrical Safety and is continuing to work with MPs and key stakeholders to highlight the importance of an effective product recall system.

ENDS

Editors’ Notes

Most large white goods are not ‘recalled’, their size makes this prohibitive. In terms of corrective action, whether it is a safety notice, or a full-blown recall, key response requirements are generally unchanged – to trace consumers and repair, replace, or remove the problem product.

Electrical Safety First is a UK Charity dedicated to reducing and preventing damage, injuries and death caused by electricity.